Verbena plant named ‘Dulcena’

ABSTRACT

A new Verbena plant particularly distinguished by its light blue flower, early flowering, and with a habit that is first semi-erect and later spreading.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Dulcena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida. The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘Y711’ and ‘U1012’. ‘Y711’ is a blue flowering Verbena having a semi-erect habit. ‘Y711’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘U1012’ is a white flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘U1012’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘Y711’ nor ‘U1012’ have been patented. As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1997 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full colour, the colour shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Differences between the variety ‘Dulcena’, its parents and a similar cultivar Character ‘Dulcena’ ‘Y711’ ‘U1012’ ‘Luxena’ Flower color Light Blue Blue White Light blue Seedset No Little Much No Flower size Normal Normal Large Large Spike length Normal short Long Very long

The Plant

Classification — Botanical: Verbena×hybrida.

Parentage:

Female parent.—A seedling named ‘Y711’ is one of our seedlings from our Y-generation of plants bred in 1995.

Pollen parent.—A seedling named ‘U1012’ is one of our seedlings from our U-generation of plants bred in 1991.

Growth habit: Semi-erect, later spreading.

Plant height: 18-28 cm.

Spreading area of plant: 40-70 cm.

Growth rate: Hanging and vigorous.

Heat and cold resistance: Resistant to hot and cold weather.

Branching character: Freely branching and lateral branching at every node.

Blooming period: From April till November.

The Stem

Diameter: 2-2.5 mm.

Shape: Tetragonal.

Anthocyan pigmentation: Absent.

Color: Green 137C.

Length of internode: 20-40 mm, depending on the light where the plant is propagated.

Pubescence: Some pubescence is present.

The Foliage

Phyllotaxis: Opposite.

Shape of blade: Broadly ovate, with deep incisions.

Texture:

Upper side.—Smooth.

Lower side.—Smooth.

Venation: Pinnate.

Leaf margin: Double incised.

Leaf base: Truncate.

Leaf apex: Acute.

Length: 25-45 mm.

Width: 20-40 mm.

Depth of incision: 10-20 mm.

Colour:

Upper side.—Dark green 139A.

Lower side.—Light green 143A.

Pubescence: Some pubescence is present.

Length of leaf stem: 7-15 mm.

Petiole surface texture: Slightly pubescent.

The Bud

Peduncle length: 30-50 mm, depending on season.

Size:

Diameter.—2 mm.

Length.—8-10 mm.

Shape: Conical.

Colour: Medium green 141A.

Sepals:

Colour.—Green 137D.

Form.—Upright.

Number.—5, fused.

Size.—6 mm.

Shape.—Elongated.

The Flower

Direction: Ascending.

Outward curvation of petal: Medium curved.

Diameter: 20-26 mm.

Height: 16-18 mm.

Borne: In a cluster.

Form: Salverform; sessile on terminal spikes.

Cluster: Spike.

Colour: Light Blue 85A.

Eye: A very small (2 mm) green-white Eye (128D) is present on the base of all 5 petals.

No. of petals: Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.

Overlapping of petals: Separate.

Shape of the petals: Each petal is heart shaped at the apex and grown together at the base.

Petal margin: Entire.

Petal surface texture: Smooth.

Size of the petal:

Length.—7-9 mm.

Width.—6-8 mm.

Spike:

Length.—20-30 mm.

Diameter.—30-40 mm.

Calyx length: 9-11 mm.

Calyx color: 137C.

Calyx surface texture: Smooth.

Anthocyan pigmentation of Calyx limb: Absent.

No. of flowers per spike: 20-35.

Fragrance: A very distinct rosy sweet fragrance is present.

Lastingness of the bloom: New florets continue to open in one spike over a period of 17 days.

Reproductive Organs

One pistil and four stamens in pairs; color for both is yellowgreen 150D. The pistilsize is 14-16 mm in length. Pollen is not present. The filaments and anthers are fused to the corolla. The anthers are enclosed and not a prominent feature of the flowers. ‘Dulcena’ does not freely set seed.

Roots

Type of roots: Fibrous, Roots start to grow on every part of the stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the nodes.

Physiological and Ecological Characteristics

Good tolerance to heat and cold. Strong resistance to pests and diseases, particularly powdery mildew. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterised particularly as to novelty by larger light blue flowers than other Verbena plants, which appear earlier on the plant in a larger number, and a growing habit that is more compact. 